Latendresse's Four-Point Game Halts Thunder Win Streak At Five

Published on December 17, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


VICTORIA, B.C. - Olivier Latendresse engineered a four-point effort (2g-2a) and the Victoria Salmon Kings scored five unanswered goals in the first and second period to beat the Stockton Thunder (10-12-3, 23 points), 7-2 before 3,842 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday.

The Thunder, who had their winning streak halted at five games, received goal-scoring support in the first period from J.F. Caudron and Kenny MacAulay. Spelling Latendresse's multi-goal effort were individual markers from Scott Howes, Randall Gelech, Wes Goldie, Dirk Southern and Chad Painchaud.

Howes buried a rebound following a Thunder turnover at center ice just 20 seconds into the hockey to put the Salmon Kings up 1-0, but Caudron leveled the game just 2:21 later when he cleaned up a rebound to David Shantz's blocker side after Justin Dacosta was denied on a drive from the point.

Victoria took a 2-1 lead on bizarre bounce following Randall Gelech's slap shot from the high slot, which caromed off the glass sharply and went into the net off the back of Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton with 16:23 left in the first period.

MacAulay, returning for his first game in a Thunder uniform since an AHL stint with San Antonio, knotted the score at 2-2 when his wrist shot from the left point seered its way through traffic with 11:26 left in the five-goal first period flurry.

The tie lasted just 9:16 when Southern restored the Salmon Kings lead to 3-2 when his uncontested wrist shot at the left circle clipped Pitton's blocker side and dribbled into the net.

The Salmon Kings took advantage and ripped off four goals in the second period, beginning with Latendresse's first goal of the game at 1:51 off a defensive zone turnover when he deked to his backhand past Pitton.

Painchaud hiked the lead to 5-2 at 3:45 when he converted Gelech's centering pass from the right corner by lofting a wrist shot under the cross bar from close range.

Goldie flipped an end-over-end puck with a one-timer at the left circle with 3:18 left in the second period to push the Salmon Kings edge to 6-2 and Latendresse followed with a power-play goal and his second marker of the game, burying a wrist shot from the left circle with 29 seconds left in the period.

Andrew Perugini relieved Pitton in a scoreless third period and made seven saves. Shantz collected the win with 27 stops.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Garet Hunt (injured reserve), Riley Emmerson (healthy), Ryan Constant (healthy), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Bobby Davey (healthy)... Victoria outshot the Thunder, 36-29... the Thunder fell to 2-1-0 in the season series.

The Thunder returns to play for the rematch on Friday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre to face the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

-- ALL OUT, ALL SEASON --

THREE STARS:

1. VIC - 42 Olivier Latendresse

2. VIC - 14 Randall Gelech

3. VIC - 27 Chad Painchaud

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